[PlaneCrazy]

As if I'm not already busy, and cash-strapped enough...

I got stuck in the parking area after some heavy rains. (I work at a glider factory, so I park behind a hangar, on the high side, on grass - 4 inch deep water + eroded lawn = ...

So I decided: Donkey needs all-wheel drive.

I'm looking into using a fwd Toyota gearbox (5-spd man, of course) behind the inline engine, and a compact front diff. Sounds simple, doesn't it? How could I possibly fail...?

Let me count the ways...

1.) In South Africa, none of the boy racers will tell me where to source gear sets. I'm trying to avoid having gears cut due to cost or time.

2.) I could use a Corolla 'box, but would prefer a Camry unit, since the Camry is a heavy, big car. I also noticed the Getrag/Toyota E58 'box has its starter knob on the diff side (right side of the engine), and the C52 "Mickey Mouse" has two starter knobs, one on both sides of the engine. I can make an aluminium intermediate plate, no problem. BUT... we never got the E58 or C52 'boxes in SA...

3.) What cable shifter to use while maintaining the "Mercedes-ness"? (Reverse = up, left, back or up, right, back) Will a Merc A-class shifter work?

4.) I have spent so much on a working 5-spd 'box. And I'm reaping the rewards daily (Brilliant fuel economy, quiet cruising, power to spare and prodigious comfort). So, why...? Why me? Why now?

Why not...?

And, no, you can NOT have my current 5-spd, lest I decide to revert to the current layout, or until I say so. You're not supposed to give me a reason to do this, remember.

 

[Cycobilly]

No, no, no.

Donkey doesn't need all-wheel drive, Donkey needs a stable mate. Such as a Geleandewagen with a 617 under the hood.

Just the fabrication needed to mate up everything to the 123 should be enough to change your mind about it.

 

[Stretch]

There were 4WD W124s...

 

[PlaneCrazy]

G-wagen: best off-roader EVER! Which is also why off-road is where it should stay... Kidney straps, anyone?

W124 4matic: too bad it wasn't a 4manual. Or a W123...

 

[Stretch]

I'm not 75% sure but I thought the extra bits for the 4matic were bolted on to a 722.3(?) automatic transmission... couldn't you adapt that to the manual gear box of your choice?

I know even less about this next suggestion but what about Audi quattro running gear?

 

[slcturbo]

Sounds like an interesting project. However, a project of that magnitude will be neither cheap nor quick. Unless you have lots of experience with this sort of thing, there will also be a real steep learning curve. And whatever you do, don't learn how to do it on Donkey. Learn how to do it and whether it is even possible using a parts car.

I recently restored an older Toyota Landcruiser. Engine and drive train swaps are very common in the Landcruiser community. Even with pre-made adapters and lots of community support, these kinds of things are more time consuming and more expensive than you think they will be.

 

[bruca03]

I'm sweating just thinking about your ordeal. Good lord, good luck.

 

[PlaneCrazy]

Only if I can find a first-gen ML's manual gearbox, since it was (and still is) the only vehicle to reach SA with 4matic. We never received any sedans with 4Matic, and we still don't...

Besides, I can promise you that nothing from any of Merc's auto trannies can be planted into/onto a manual 'box.

The quattro system sits the front transaxle too far back. At least, it did on the older gearboxes, which I can find on scrapyards.

No way am I making that work:crybaby2:

 

[PlaneCrazy]

Interesting, I have had this idea for a longer while than my spontaneous-looking first post might suggest, which must mean I'm way too serious about this...

And the very first thought that shot through my mind was: "Why, oh why did I decide to sell the donor car...?"

Hell, slcturbo, don't get me started on Land Cruisers - my father is a fan, and with 20 years' worth of good reasons. I had to change very few things to convert my 4-spd to a 5-spd 'box, yet that cost more than Donkey did to buy...

 

[Josh]

At this point, I no longer think you're planeCrazy, but plainCrazy

This seems like an interesting project, but the time, effort, and money that'd have to be sunk into it to complete seems to be a strong deterrent. It's odd you can find any 4Matic sedans down in SA, but I guess the market there doesn't really demand them? I'm not too sure, I don't live there, haha. I live in a different SA.

 

[MB1316]

Jeep with 240d engine

You might be better off putting a Mercedes diesel in an old jeep. (cj-5, cj-7, wrangler, Cherokee, land cruiser, small truck) I don't know if it has been done but it would make a very nice combination.

 

[Josh]

You might be better off putting a Mercedes diesel in an old jeep. (cj-5, cj-7, wrangler, Cherokee, land cruiser, small truck) I don't know if it has been done but it would make a very nice combination.

It's been done quite a bit. The old MB diesel engines mate well to the rough n' tough AX-15 5 speed manual gearbox.

 

[PlaneCrazy]

I hate tall, cumbersome cars!!! I hate bone-jarring rides!!! I can't afford an Audi A4 tdi Quattro, nor find one with a manual gearbox.

I love the w123's comfort. I'm not building an off-roader, just a nice, safe road car.

It's not even to say I'll do it, either. But if I do it, it will be done such that you won't even notice until you get under the car.

 

[PlaneCrazy]

At this point, I no longer think you're planeCrazy, but plainCrazy

This seems like an interesting project, but the time, effort, and money that'd have to be sunk into it to complete seems to be a strong deterrent. It's odd you can find any 4Matic sedans down in SA, but I guess the market there doesn't really demand them? I'm not too sure, I don't live there, haha. I live in a different SA.

Only just now figured that out, huh?

The bigwigs at MBSA have a bad attitude, is all. They don't think we should be allowed to choose what we want to drive. Which is why I'll probably never buy a new Mercedes.

 

[mike-81-240d]

Buy a g wagen. It will cost less in the long run.

 

[Nutz 4 Benz]

I entertained putting an OM617 in my spearfishing Jeep at one time.

 

[Commuter]

Couldn't you park on paved ground?

 

[PlaneCrazy]

Only when there actually is pavement.

 

[Josh]

Only just now figured that out, huh?

The bigwigs at MBSA have a bad attitude, is all. They don't think we should be allowed to choose what we want to drive. Which is why I'll probably never buy a new Mercedes.

Oh no, I knew, I was just holding back from saying anything

That's unfortunate that MBSA is run by a bag of douches.

The only other option I can think of would be swapping everything from the motor, trans, etc. But that's not cost effective, and you lose your MB diesel motor.

 

[PlaneCrazy]

The only other option I can think of would be swapping everything from the motor, trans, etc. But that's not cost effective, and you lose your MB diesel motor.

Right... ye olde "Radiator cap treatment": remove crap, throw everything else away, pull up a new car and refit cap.

I'm starting to think that I should keep my crazy ideas to myself.:crybaby2: